Wisconsin or Michigan?

[hot-ice]

Alright, thanks guys I'll have to try Cannonsburg this year it looks like. I want to try some new places this year. Normally just go to bittersweet or mad river mtn. in Ohio. I want to try seven springs in PA this year to.

[Gdog42]

Here's my review of Timber Ridge:
Pretty good. If you're a park dude, this is the best place out of Bittersweet, and err... Swiss Valley.
There are 2 parks. One is smaller and more for beginners to intermediate, and has a wide variety of features including a few 3ft kickers which are fun; and basic jibs all in different shapes, sizes and difficulty levels.
The other park is bigger and has more advanced features including a variety of jibs and several medium kickers (which I saw people back flipping off). Both parks have rope tows. This is good because you instantly get back up and get fast laps. Make sure you have a pair of gloves with a leather palm or something that won't wear or rip on the ropes if you go.
When we went on a Saturday, the parks were not as crowded as they were at the other places, especially in the beginner park.
The main slopes are not as long or as good as Bittersweet, and were a little icier when we went.
The food prices are expensive, but not as bad as Swiss Valley.
I didn't spent much time in the shop, but I know they at least sell decent brands such as K2 and Dakine.
I remember the lift tickets costing the same as at Bittersweet and Swiss Valley(that place where you get yelled at for strapping in on the lift, which I do sometimes...)
Overall, Bittersweet is much better for all mountain, but if park is your thing then definitely check this place out! You'll have fun in the park there, that's for sure!

[chomps1211]

Originally Posted by Gdog42

I said I get to stay at one of these two choices for FREE! Heck I'd love to go out west, but if I can stay at Boyne and only pay for the lift tickets, I might as well take advantage of it.

Looks like I came to this discussion a little late. I've been to Boyne somewhere around 7-10 times in the 1 1/4 years I've been snowboarding. Got seriously addicted after my 1st lesson, and Boyne is the Best hill around that doesn't require 8-14 hours driving for me)

You didn't mention where they were going to be putting you up for your lodging. The Grand Mountain Lodge is the choice place of the two or three "hotel" options @ Boyne to stay. It's the only place I've stayed at when I stay @ Boyne. Real nice rooms. (if money's tight,.. I'll stay out in town. It's cheaper, but I never make 1st chair when I do! ) I've heard that the "Clock Tower" & some others on site are less than premium,.. but hell if it was free? I'd stay there.

Boyne Mnt. has a fair assortment of runs and DaveZ was correct, your lift tickets @ Boyne are good at Highlands as well. (I've been to highlands twice & personally, I think I like the trails @ highlands a bit more than @ Boyne.)

Boyne has a couple of popular bars on the property,.. (not really my thing, but hey, that's where the wimmin's is!!) They have Live music on the weekends. The food choices are decent if expensive.

If you decide to take the 40-50 min. drive north to Highlands,.. You also have the choice of going across the street to Nub's Nob. Another decent (by MI standards anyway,) hill. They all offer night riding, so if you can manage it physically, you can get 11-12 hours of boarding a day! 9 am. -9:30 pm.

So,.. If you choose to take your free trip to MI. You will have many more options & choices than you would if you go to that "dinky" sounding, other place you mentioned! ...but as has been said already, don't expect too much. MI. ain't the Rockies!!

[Gdog42]

@chomps1211
Yep, I'm going to Boyne! Isn't the Highlands pretty much a terrain park place? That's how their website made it look last time I checked.
Also, do you know if there are any off-trail areas at any of the 3 hills you mentioned? That's usually where I like to ride wherever I go, both locally and when out West.
Thanks.

[hot-ice]

[QUOTE=Gdog42;541660]Here's my review of Timber Ridge:
Pretty good. If you're a park dude, this is the best place out of Bittersweet, and err... Swiss Valley.
There are 2 parks. One is smaller and more for beginners to intermediate, and has a wide variety of features including a few 3ft kickers which are fun; and basic jibs all in different shapes, sizes and difficulty levels.
The other park is bigger and has more advanced features including a variety of jibs and several medium kickers (which I saw people back flipping off). Both parks have rope tows. This is good because you instantly get back up and get fast laps. Make sure you have a pair of gloves with a leather palm or something that won't wear or rip on the ropes if you go.
When we went on a Saturday, the parks were not as crowded as they were at the other places, especially in the beginner park.
The main slopes are not as long or as good as Bittersweet, and were a little icier when we went.
The food prices are expensive, but not as bad as Swiss Valley.
I didn't spent much time in the shop, but I know they at least sell decent brands such as K2 and Dakine.
I remember the lift tickets costing the same as at Bittersweet and Swiss Valley(that place where you get yelled at for strapping in on the lift, which I do sometimes...)
Overall, Bittersweet is much better for all mountain, but if park is your thing then definitely check this place out! You'll have fun in the park there, that's for sure! [/QUOTE
Thanks for the help I really appreciate it, I'll have to check it out as park is what I do the most.

[chomps1211]

Originally Posted by Gdog42

@chomps1211
Yep, I'm going to Boyne! Isn't the Highlands pretty much a terrain park place? That's how their website made it look last time I checked.

I think Highlands has "more" in the way of park than Boyne does. DaveZ & Sabatoa would know more about the terrain park features at Boyne, but no,.. Highlands isn't ALL park. Last year they had some sort of pipe feature, but they are mostly regular green / blue / black runs. (...at this point in my riding I wouldn't have any reason to go to Highlands if they were a "park" resort!)

Originally Posted by Gdog42

...Also, do you know if there are any off-trail areas at any of the 3 hills you mentioned? That's usually where I like to ride wherever I go, both locally and when out West.
Thanks.

I have only been riding less than 1 1/2 seasons so I don't have the skills to venture much into gladed areas myself, so that wasn't anything I looked into too much.

Having said that, I don't really know how much of that is available @ Boyne, I know they have it, but I just haven't any idea if it's set aside for that purpose or if folks there just head into the trees between the runs or whatnot! I know Highlands does have some glade runs. But again, I can't speak to how good or extensive they are. Nub's Nob has a much more extensive glades area. It's been thinned & maintained for that purpose, but early in the season,..? I don't know. I't may not have enough snow to be open. I do know that area is closed to night riding. So if you want to check it out,.. go early in the day. If you don't like it, you can always cross the street to Highlands & ride till 9!

[Gdog42]

No problem, hot-ice! Glad to help.

[Gdog42]

Originally Posted by chomps1211

Having said that, I don't really know how much of that is available @ Boyne, I know they have it, but I just haven't any idea if it's set aside for that purpose or if folks there just head into the trees between the runs or whatnot! I know Highlands does have some glade runs. But again, I can't speak to how good or extensive they are. Nub's Nob has a much more extensive glades area. It's been thinned & maintained for that purpose, but early in the season,..? I don't know. I't may not have enough snow to be open. I do know that area is closed to night riding. So if you want to check it out,.. go early in the day. If you don't like it, you can always cross the street to Highlands & ride till 9!

OK, thanks! The kind of off-trail I like is when it's not been set aside for that purpose. I like to go out of the way if I can at resorts where the snow has not been touched or altered, which is where it usually piles up. If it's not frozen, it's pretty decent powder! But you are right about early season-that kind of stuff is usually much better in about min-January, except for last December at Bittersweet once.
Even though you've not yet been doing that sort of terrain, that helped a lot. I'll check out Nub's Nob!

[david_z]

I haven't been to Highlands in probably 15 years, I've been to Boyne Mountain maybe 6 days in the last 2 seasons though. I don't recall much in the way of off-piste or gladed terrain. Nubs has more, IIRC. (Crystal Mountain which is about 2hrs West has probably the most *dedicated* gladed terrain, none of it is really "off-piste" since it's between groomed trails and within resort boundary, but it's still kinda nice if not all that steep)

Remember that in the midwest we are dealing with much smaller acreage and a lot more private land so although it may be appealing to look over the resort boundary, that practice is severely frowned upon here and also FWIW there just isn't really the type of terrain you might be thinking of finding in Utah or CO sidecountry.

[sabatoa]

Just to drive home what Chomps said, Highlands is in no way a "mostly park" resort. It's a large resort with a wide variety of trails from mellow to steep, narrow to wide and everything in between.

They have a super solid park areas including a half pipe but if that's not your thing it's likely you won't even see where they are.

Highlands has gladed areas like David_Z mentioned but I don't do glades (yet) so I can't speak of them.